In the Gospel of Luke Chapter 3, John the Baptist provides a prescription to prepare the way in the season of Advent.
As was prophesied in Isaiah, John called for repentance and to:
“Prepare the Way of the Lord, make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”Luke 3:5-6
Prepare the Way, Not Just a Construction Project
This section jumped out at me as a civil engineer because I noticed a lot details related to building roads. Why would that be?
This is not just a construction project of grading slopes, but a restructuring of our hearts to make it easier for Jesus to travel. And there may actually be some similarities to a road project in this time of Advent.
In order to make a path straight, you need to cross over or through obstacles and rough areas. There is no option to wind around and avoid. To do this, you will need infrastructure like culverts and bridges to allow water to pass through while remaining strong. This is the way we should allow God to travel with us and through us.
In the spiritual book, The Soul of the Apostolate, the author even describes how we should not only be vessels for Jesus as many saints say. He says that we should be more like a reservoir with a supply, filled up with Christ only then overflowing to others.
Advent is for Others
So then, our road is not meant for Jesus to walk on alone to nowhere. We are preparing the way to allow Him to reach others, and for others to see Him through us.
Advent is to prepare the Way for His coming at Christmas. Also, it is preparing our way to Him at the end of times, or at the end of our lives.
How to Make Advent for Others
Here is where John gives his prescription for Advent, preparing the way.
“And the multitudes asked him, ‘What then shall we do?’ And he answered them, ‘He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise. Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, ‘Teacher, what shall we do?’And he said to them, ‘Collect no more than is appointed you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.’
Here John foreshadows Jesus’ teaching to the rich young man when he asks a similar question of “What am I to do?”
In short the answer is to live for others. Share our clothes and our food with those who have none or less. Be honest in our dealings with others. Obey the commandments and be content.
Advent is for Family
Even the end of Chapter 3 in Luke’s Gospel points towards preparing the way for Jesus through self-gift to others.
The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew shows up first thing in Chapter 1, Verse 1. Here it is interesting that it is stuck right after John the Baptist’s call to prepare a path for Jesus.
But this is not just a list of names, this is a sign of selflessness. Being a part of a family and raising kids is not an easy task. We have to grow, we have to learn by listening, and we have to love.
Even our own existence is not our own doing, we owe that to God and to our family who gave of themselves and worked to make straight a path for our well-being.
So as we continue to prepare this Advent, let’s be thankful for those who made a path for us. And we can ask for St. John’s intercession to help us prepare the way to Jesus in our lives and for others at Christmas and forever.
If you missed Day 1 for Luke 1, here it is.
If you like this kind of thing and want to read more, you can do that here Formed by a Flame or Subscribe to the Newsletter!
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In